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ANTARCTICA — A Russian research vessel and Chinese icebreaker stranded in Antarctica have
broken free from the heavy ice that gripped them and are making steady progress toward open water,
the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said today.

The Chinese icebreaker became trapped in isolated Commonwealth Bay last week after using one of
its helicopters to ferry to safety the passengers of the stranded Russian vessel.

Australian rescue authorities advised the two captains to take advantage of cracks in the ice
that appeared around the vessels yesterday evening. They since have made slow progress through
lighter ice conditions.

The Russian-owned research ship, Akademik Shokalskiy, left New Zealand on Nov. 28. It became
trapped on Dec. 24.